uwe

Hi Thomas, yes, this kanji can have several readings like “shin”, “onoko”, “tomi” or “omi”. In our case I think “omi” is the pronunciation to go with. BTW, there is indeed a smith “Yoshitomi” around Bunka, but written “義富”…

Small correction: “義臣” (Yoshiomi).

Condition of the lacquer aside, there are signs that it (once) might be not that bad! Without better pictures we can only speculate, though… Despite some notes: It seems the whole armor (haidate missing) is laced with “絵革” (e-gawa = printed leather)? It also seems that munaita, oshitsuke no ita, etc. are covered in “金唐革” (kinkara-gawa = gilded? embossed leather)? Given the fact that armor parts made of nerikawa are not really inferior to its counterparts of iron and the above assumptions are true, we may have a matching armor with at least two somewhat more expensive features. Curious about more pics… @Raouf: the “skirt plating” suspended from the dō is called “kusazuri” (草摺).

Welcome Raouf, at a glance, Edo, although the pics are a bit blurry and not much detail is to spot (which is important to determine the set in terms of age as well as if it is composite or not). Like Colin already stated, the condition is (especially of the urushi) not good. That’s a problem in so far that there is no trained armor restorer in the states (as far as I know) except maybe one…but I think he does not accept orders?! What can be said for the time being is that the helmet is a so called Momonari-kabuto “桃形兜” (peach shaped helmet) sporting a Suigyō maedate “水牛角” (water buffalo horn). The crest on the fukigaeshi of the shikoro is based on “Ken-katabami” (oxalis with old style swords). I can try to narrow it down if you like… There is much more to say, but I prefer to wait for better images!

住 is strange…

Could the third character be “真/眞” as well? Thus we would have “純正真鐡入鍛” ??

Let us play with “校”, which could indeed mean school…

Not sure about the last kanji. The other two seems to be “東清..“.

Might be a name…Hirokazu, Hirotaka or Hiroyasu….?!

🤔

田龍斎義随, Markus has him as Denryūsai in his Meikan, but it might be a typo?!

The second character leaves a strange 永 feeling…🤔

Guess it is “安親作” (Yasuchika saku)…

Hi Marc, haven’t seen this armor before. Seems to be an opulently made haramaki…

Well spotted Colin! There might be a fair chance that the pieces (except the maedate) are/ were Edo period. But it seems that somebody had his hands on it…at least on the lacquer… I won’t dare a reasonable assessment based on these pictures! Hint: Katchū is an exciting field of collecting, but, as with Nihon-tō, it sometimes can be a snake pit for beginners (and for the more educated as well 😉) when it comes to acquire something…

Hi “chopper”, it is a Momonari kabuto (peach shaped helmet). Unfortunately, the pictures saying next to nothing. Black pieces in front of a black background 🫤

Some info! Excerpt from M. Sesko's book: IEHIRA (家平), 1st gen., Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Kaga – “Gashū-jū Fujiwara Shirōbei no Jō Iehira kore o saku” (賀州住藤原四郎兵衛尉家平作之), “Gashū-jū Iehira” (賀州住家平), “Gashū Kanazawa-jū Shirōbei no Jō Fujiwara Iehira” (賀州金沢住四郎兵衛尉藤原家平), second son of the 1st gen. Ietada (家忠), he lived in Kanazawa (金沢) and died in the third year of Tenna (天和, 1683), itame mixed with masame, gunome, hako-midare, sanbonsugi, notare, suguha, chūjō-saku IEHIRA (家平), 2nd gen., Genroku (元禄, 1688-1704), Kaga – “Gashū-jū Fujiwara Iehira” (賀州住藤原家平), “Gashū-jū Fujiwara Iehira saku” (賀州住藤原家平作), he changed his name during the Genroku era to Kunihira (国平), see also entry “KUNIHIRA (国平), 1st gen.”, during his time as 2nd gen. Iehira he signed with a thicker chisel than the 1st gen. and also his hamon is more flamboyant than that of his predecessor, chū-saku

I think it’s “賀州住藤原家平” (Gashū jū Fujiwara Iehira)

I had a quick look, but unfortunately no exact match for both. In case of the bamboo mon I guess there might be a little bit artistical freedom involved... For the second one I couldn't get any closer as seen below: So maybe "武冨" (Taketomi clan, Bungo province)??

I’ll try to figure out something about your two mon!

Hi and welcome Harvey! The pic is indeed out of focus and hard to decipher. My first intention was “両原兼正“ but couldn’t find any reference. So I think I’m wrong…

Yep, “長州住友之” ( Chōshū jū Tomoyuki)…

Not bad for a repro! It’s easy with the sode. You only have to make sure that the kōgai kanamono (ornamental plate at the back center) actually pointing backwards. The only problem is that you have ō-sode attached, so you can’t fasten the cord/ cords on the back of the dō because the agemaki no kan is missing (a device on the upper back of the dō).

Quite nice Alex 👍 Two remarks. One gyoyo is missing and the sode are wrongly attached!

Unfortunately the images are a bit blurry. Can you provide some more detailed pictures please? For the time being, the whole doesn’t look very old to me. Also the embossing of the dō lacks quality…